Written Answers Nos. 410-429
410. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the exact role, expectations and KPIs that the night-time economy manager in Drogheda will be expected to fulfil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35263/23]
View answer414. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to confirm with respect to the provision of a night-time economy manager in Drogheda which will help develop a night-time economy strategy in the town, that the appointed person will work with local businesses and voluntary groups on the Purple Flag award for the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35300/23]
View answerLast year, in direct response to Action 19 in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce, I announced the locations of the 9 towns and cities which will take part in the new Night-Time Advisor pilot initiative. The selected pilots are Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny, Drogheda, Sligo, Buncrana and Longford Town.
My Department has been liaising with the CCMA, who have been leading on this process, in relation to the recruitment of the 9 Night-Time Economy Advisors. I have approved funding for a two-year full-time post in the local authority for each of the selected towns and cities and the post has been advertised at Local Authority Grade VII scale. I am expecting the new Night Time Economy Advisor for Drogheda to be announced soon.
Once appointed, the new Night-Time Economy Advisors will help to drive and support a more sustainable Night-Time Economy in their specific areas. They will work with businesses, purple flag, communities, venues, residents and artists to create a more vibrant night-life for all and bring vitality back to our city and town centres in a safe and sustainable way. The new Advisor will be tasked with establishing a new Night-Time Economy Committee which will be diverse, inclusive and dynamic. The Advisor will have to ensure that all existing local structures are assessed to ensure synergies are developed where possible and that duplication of effort is avoided.
A key element of this initiative will also include an extensive consultation process led by the Advisor, which will lead to the development of a cohesive action plan setting out a range of interventions to support the co-ordinated development of the area’s Night-Time Economy. The Advisor will also identify potential funding streams to support the NTE in the chosen cities/towns.
I would like to thank the CCMA for their role in leading this process. I look forward to the establishment and work of all the Night-Time Advisors and getting them in place as soon as possible.
411. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to give details of mitigation measures that are being considered to offset the €1.1 billion loss in ancillary tourist services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35264/23]
View answerIt is just over 500 days since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia which resulted in a record numbers of displaced people seeking protection across Europe. Thanks to the incredible generosity and support of the Irish people, more than 100,000 people from Ukraine and asylum seekers from elsewhere are now being accommodated in Ireland.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is engaged across Government concerning temporary accommodation for those in need of shelter. This approach is in line with the whole-of-government response to the twin accommodation crises relating to Ukrainian BOTPs as well as International Protection applicants.
Previous analysis by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of its overall humanitarian accommodation portfolio had focused on that portfolio as a percentage of the registered tourism stock quantum. However, as more and more non-registered and non-tourism stock has come into the portfolio, the percentage of registered tourism accommodation being used by DCEDIY has declined.
A more granular analysis of its data by DCEDIY, taking a more focused approach to the different classes of accommodation types in its portfolio, shows that the percentage of registered tourism accommodation being used is significantly lower – at under 14% - than had been initially estimated. The data shows that in five counties, more than 20% of the registered stock is used for humanitarian purposes, peaking at 33% in Clare. While the national average of 13 – 14% displacement is less impactful in terms of impact on the downstream economy and the wider tourism ecosystem, in some counties the impact could be more significant.
I welcome this recalibrated analysis as it shows that the scale of the challenge presented to the wider tourism ecosystem by accommodation stock displacement is not as wide as had been feared. However, the analysis does still show that, in certain counties, the scale of accommodation stock displacement is large and this could have downstream economic and other impacts.
I have asked Fáilte Ireland and my officials to continue to keep this issue under review and I have asked the sector itself to engage with Fáilte Ireland regarding evidence of impacts on the ground. Once this further piece of analysis is done in the coming months, it will help inform any decision making in this regard.
412. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is a possibility RTÉ long-wave radio may be re-introduced; to give an update on the previously recommended DAB replacement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35265/23]
View answerThe closure of RTÉ’s longwave radio service was included in the recommendations made by the Future of Media Commission, whose Report was published by Government in July 2022. In January this year, the Future of Media Commission Implementation Strategy and Action Plan was published to give effect to the 49 recommendations of the Commission accepted by Government.
The Commission’s recommendation with regard to longwave radio was designed to provide RTÉ with the opportunity to concentrate its resources in innovation and digital services, to better serve the public now and into the future. Ultimately, however, its closure was an operational decision for RTÉ.
Longwave radio transmission is an outdated technology with very few services remaining in Europe and is generally no longer accessible on modern radio sets. The closure of the longwave transmitter has avoided the requirement to make significant investments to maintain the transmitter, estimated by RTÉ to be in the region of €2.6 million, and significant energy costs. RTÉ considered that the cost of maintaining the service, both financially and to the environment, was no longer sustainable by the organisation.
RTÉ ceased Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) transmission in March 2021. At that time, RTÉ indicated that the decision was driven by three main factors: audience usage, industry engagement and financial management.
The most recent JNLR/Ipsos Report into radio listening (April 2022 - March 2023) states that 3.255 million people (aged 15+) tune into radio every weekday, meaning that 79.4% of all adults listen to radio daily. In terms of devices, widespread ownership of smartphones (at 91% of the adult population in 2022) helps access to audio anytime and anywhere, increasing the importance of radio or digital streaming. This largely displaced the need for and usage of DAB.
413. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to seek a full update on the Fáilte Ireland Destination Town Plan for Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35296/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
415. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if, in relation to RTÉ pensioners, many of whom are surviving on low to middle incomes, she intends to sanction RTÉ to release funds so that the pensions' trustees can pay out the pension increase, which has been frozen for a number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35460/23]
View answerMy officials have been advised by NewEra in relation to this pension increase consent request, and I am currently considering the matter, and will then engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform for his final decision in relation to this matter.
416. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline the internships, apprenticeships and graduate schemes run by her Department and public bodies under the aegis of her Department. [35494/23]
View answerI am advised that my Department facilitates a number of internships and graduate schemes as follows:
An Coimisinéir Teanga work placement.
This is a 12 week placement offered to one candidate each year usually from January to March. These placements provide participants with an opportunity to gain practical experience of the work of the Office of the Language Commissioner intended to complement their academic studies. The Temporary Clerical Officer salary applies.
IGEES Internships
In 2022 and 2023, the Department has provided 12 week internships to university students enrolled in the IGEES Internship Programme which is administered by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These interns are usually placed from June/July for a period of 3 months. In 2022, the Department employed one IGEES intern. This year, two interns employed by the Department as IGEES interns. The Temporary Clerical Officer salary applies.
EU Internships
The Internship Scheme in European Union Institutions began in 2018 and is administered by the Department in co-operation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council, the Committee of the Regions and the Publications Office. The scheme is focused on the provision of opportunities for graduates to acquire work placements in the special subject field of translation, proof-reading and from 2022, interpretation.
I am advised that in 2022, the Department employed 13 Interns, 10 of which were offered contracts from 1st October 2023 to 31st July 2023 to work in the area of proof-reading and translation. 3 interns were employed from the 1st October 2022 to the 31st March 2023 to work in the area of interpretation, 2 of whom were re-employed for a further 2 months from the 15th May 2023 to the 14th July 2023. In all cases, the Temporary Clerical Officer salary applies.
Willing, Able, Mentoring (WAM) Internships
The WAM Programme, currently funded by the Department of Social Protection offers graduate placement for people with disabilities at Executive Officer level for seven months usually from July to January. From September 2023 these placements will increase in duration to 10 months. The graduates are recruited and assigned by the Public Appointments Service. The Department has supported this programme by offering placements to 4 candidates in 2021 and 1 candidate in 2022. The Department has submitted an expression of interest for 2 WAM Interns for the 2023-24 Programme and awaits the outcome.
University Graduate Placement
In 2021 the Department hired a university graduate on a three month Communications internship which was extended to 12 months. The Temporary Clerical Officer salary applied.
Bodies under the aegis of my Department
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department are operational matters for those bodies and is not something for which I have direct, day-to-day responsibility.
417. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which potential growth opportunities for business tourism in this country continue to be identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35543/23]
View answerI refer the Deputy to his Parliamentary Question No. 150 www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2022-09-29/150/?highlight%5B0%5D=47850 of 29 September last, which confirmed that my Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of developing national tourism policy.
With regards to the particular matter of identifying growth opportunities for business tourism, this is an operational matter for both Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland through the “Meet in Ireland” business tourism brand for the island of Ireland.
I have referred the Deputy's question to both Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland and asked them to reply directly to the Deputy with further information on this matter. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
418. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she and her Department continue to liaise with various sporting groups that have been the beneficiaries of Sports Capital Grants in the past with a view to ensuring that all such grants are used effectively and efficiently and where difficulties have arisen, assistance of a constructive nature might be offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35544/23]
View answer425. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which the swimming pool development programme is expected to continue, and on what basis, over the next two years; the extent of the programme so far in dealing with the needs as represented by local communities throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35551/23]
View answer426. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the emphasis she expects to place on sport in the coming year with particular reference to the need of facilities in all areas throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35552/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 418, 425 and 426 together.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday, 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted. The final allocations under the 2020 round were announced on 31 May last year and the total allocation of €166.6 million represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. Details of all allocations can be found on the Department's website. While the priority in recent months has been to advance the successful applications, which number almost 2,900, under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage, my Department continues to support and guide grantees from past rounds as they manage their grants. This requires detailed engagement with all grantees and, where necessary, requests for extensions and changes of purpose of grants can usually be accommodated.
Following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. This Review has now been published and is available on the Department’s website. Once the Review was finalised, I asked my officials to draft the "Guide to Making an Application" for the 2023 round to reflect the recommendations in the Review. This work is now complete and yesterday, 12 July Minister Martin and I published the new "Guide to Making an Application" for the 2023 round. We also announced that the Programme itself will be open for applications from 17 July until 8 September and I look forward to seeing a high level of applications for worthwhile sports projects from right across the country.
In relation to swimming pools specifically, capital assistance was previously provided through the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP). 52 pools have been completed under the LASPP and three swimming pool projects (Lucan, Buncrana and Edenderry) remain in the programme with the Lucan project currently under construction.
Capital support for any new swimming pools is now being provided through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The first LSSIF allocations were announced in January 2020 and thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. Eight swimming pool projects received an allocation. Full details of all allocations are available at:- www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/.
The first LSSIF allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic obviously gave rise to significant financial challenges for all grantees with many of them having to reprioritise their own expenditure plans due to reductions in their income streams. In more recent times, the high level of construction inflation has also presented considerable challenges for grantees.
In view of these issues, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects that were allocated grants and meetings with all grantees have taken place. It is encouraging that, based on these discussions with grantees, over half of the 33 projects should be in a position to draw down funding this year. While this progress is very welcome, these discussions also confirm that some projects in receipt of LSSIF grants may not proceed in the short to medium term. Following engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and in recognition of the challenges faced by some grantees due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent high level of construction inflation, officials in the Department have now written to all to all grantees inviting them to apply for additional support by 4 August 2023. To be considered for additional funding, grantees have been advised that the key elements of the project should remain as set out in the original LSSIF application and that priority will be given to applicants who provide evidence-based documentation to support their application.
Once the application deadline has passed, we will consider a further allocation, with a view to ensuring that all projects can be completed. In relation to a new round of the LSSIF, Minister Martin and I will continue to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, in relation to the additional funding required and the timing and terms and conditions of any new round of the LSSIF will be announced in due course.
It should also be noted that work is progressing on the development of the first National Swimming Strategy based on a vision to ‘provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim’. The Working Group tasked with the detailed work of preparing the strategy is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives from relevant NGBs and stakeholders. It is hoped to finalise the new strategy shortly and it will further guide future swimming pool investment policy.
419. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she continues to pursue the marketing of the island of Ireland as a tourist location worldwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35545/23]
View answerIn Budget 2023 I secured additional funding of €15 million for overseas marketing of Ireland after the once-off pump-priming investment of €35 million in 2022.
The additional funding of €15 million that was secured for this year, in conjunction with the additional €35 million last year, means that a total of €50 million in additional funding will be allocated to the Tourism Marketing Fund in 2022 and 2023.
The additional funding secured this year for overseas marketing is allowing Tourism Ireland to focus on delivering long-term sustainable demand through its new global campaign – Fill your heart with Ireland. This strategic promotional campaign will raise the awareness of Ireland's tourism offering overseas and create a desire to travel from our top markets. The campaign is about celebrating the different ways in which the island of Ireland fills the hearts of our visitors and of locals and inviting potential overseas holidaymakers to come and experience those for themselves. The new campaign went live around St. Patrick’s Day in key overseas tourism markets.
Tourism Ireland is also capitalising on a number of special opportunities which are set to take place this year, including the Notre Dame versus Navy American football game in August and many other sports tourism opportunities like the Irish Open, the 50th anniversary of Kerrygold in Germany and a collaboration with Riverdance in the United States, Canada, Germany and the Middle East.
Screen tourism opportunities will continue to be leveraged by Tourism Ireland throughout the year, including opportunities around popular movies and TV shows filmed in Ireland. Seeing Ireland’s beautiful landscapes on screen helps Tourism Ireland to market the country and they often create a ‘behind-the-scenes’ film describing and praising the filming locations.
As global competition for tourism intensifies post-Covd, sustaining extensive marketing campaigns will be vital to support the on-going recovery effort, building on the initial inbound tourism demand seen in 2022, and keeping Ireland front of mind in the international consciousness.
420. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which her Department continues to liaise with local community organisations involved in the presentation of music and drama throughout the country; the degree to which financial support can be offered directly or through the Arts Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35546/23]
View answer421. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which her Department proposes to support cultural projects in the arts and culture sectors in the course of the current year, with particular reference to annual or special events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35547/23]
View answer424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which her Department continues to fund the promotion of the arts at national and local level directly or through the agents of the Arts Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35550/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 420, 421 and 424 together.
Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland. The Council works under its 10-year Strategy to address its statutory remit through a policy-driven focus on investment, advice, advocacy and partnership. My Department continues to invest in the development of the arts and artists countrywide with record €130m annual funding for the Arts Council now in place for the third year running.
The Arts Council announced funding of over €9 Million for Arts Centres and Ealaín na Gaeltachta for 2023. The purpose of Arts Centre funding is to invest in and support the infrastructure of Arts Centres required to sustain and develop the arts in Ireland. Arts Centres are where artists and audiences meet and this is a key part of the Arts Council strategy to invest in public engagement. The Arts Council also announced the following allocations;
- €19 million in individual artist awards which includes bursaries across all art forms, artist in residence schemes and new commissions.
- €28 million for arts grant funding, project awards, festivals and touring ensuring that audiences throughout the country can experience the highest quality work.
- Over €4 million for partnerships with each local authority and to Ealaín na Gaeltachta.
- €13 million will be invested in a range of developmental projects including Creative Schools, Creative Places, Creative Europe and Culture Night, and towards the Arts Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion plans.
- €50 million for 107 strategically funded organisations across all parts of the country.
The Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based initiative within my Department designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. Under its Creative Communities initiative, in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, it has allocated over €29 million from 2018 to 2022 to the 31 local authorities to empower and support community-led participation. Creative Communities delivers investment directly into local creative economies through their local authorities, and this includes an allocation to Kildare County Council for 2023.
My role as Minister with responsibility for leading the co-ordination of the Decade of Centenaries Programme is to help ensure that the challenging events of this important and formative period in our history and related themes, are meaningfully, proportionately and sensitively remembered. I have allocated €5 million to support the 2023 commemorative programme to deliver rich and diverse national and local programmes marking the significant centenaries arising in 2023. Many of these investment programmes are delivered through the local authorities.
I also allocate annual funding to support Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann which is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music both at community and national level. Annual funding is provided to CCÉ for its work in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture.
My Department runs a Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme. The Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other central Government monies, and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies.
In addition to the above, my Department is one of the supporters of the St. Patrick’s Festival event in Dublin. Proceeds from ticket sales are invested back into the arts and culture community in Ireland, and into producing the Festival’s Parade and Programme every year. It is estimated around 500,000 people attended the St. Patricks day festival in Dublin city centre this year, not to mention the exceptional crowds that gathered around the country in small towns and villages to celebrate everything it is to be Irish.
The Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme is a three year, €105m scheme, involving 2,000 artists and creative arts workers nationwide. Payments of €325 a week for three years to 2,000 recipients began at the end of October last. The pilot will research, over a three-year period, the impact of a basic income style payment on artists and creative arts workers.
This year, I have allocated €6 million towards the implementation of a range of new measures to support the Night-Time Economy, which includes an allocation of €2 million in capital funding for a Soundproofing/Noise Mitigation Grant Scheme for late night venues. The overall allocation will help to develop new ideas and new initiatives, all with the aim of increasing the diversity of events, increasing cultural opportunities and creativity in the Night-Time Economy.
Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres used by the artistic communities was initiated and funded by local authorities. My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist and maintain these arts and cultural facilities. Funding is administered through applications received for specific Grant Schemes. Under Budget 2023, I announced €7m in additional capital funding for artists’ spaces and climate adaptation.
422. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she anticipates the film industry here and abroad to utilise the scenery in this country for filming on location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35548/23]
View answerMy Department's priorities are set out in its published Statement of Strategy 2021—2023. The overarching goal is to ensure the “sectors recover and grow in a manner that underpins social cohesion and supports strong, sustainable economic growth, with a focus on a number of cross cutting goals of equality, diversity, social inclusion, the Irish language and environmental sustainability”. The Strategy sets out the actions that my Department will take over the coming period, both nationally and regionally, to enrich the quality of life in Ireland through supporting the development of tourism, culture, arts, sports, media and Irish language. In addition to their immense inherent value, these are valued by all of our communities as important resources for social cohesion, individual and community wellbeing and for the presentation of Ireland as an attractive destination for tourism and sustainable inward investment.
The Audio-visual Action Plan was launched in June 2018. This is an industry-wide, long-term plan, under the Creative Ireland Programme, developed to support the Government’s ambition to enable Ireland to become a global hub for the production of film, TV drama and animation.
The tax incentive for the screen industries, Section 481, has been a cornerstone of the Irish screen industry in the creative and cultural value it has generated, both in terms of discovering and supporting new Irish voices, as well as showcasing Ireland’s power as an international partner, a cultural force across film, television and animation, not to mention a breath-taking location offering historic and natural beauty making it an attractive base for film locations.
Screen Ireland continues to promote Ireland as a location for filming and their extensive database of locations covers everything from modern cityscapes and Georgian and Victorian streets, to historic castles, an abundance of residential properties, and our trademark breath-taking scenery and dramatic coastlines.
423. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she expects to develop the image of Irish culture and heritage locations as a means of positive and lucrative promotion of the country internationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35549/23]
View answerCulture Ireland, a Division within my Department, is responsible for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide through specific grant programmes and various special initiatives. Culture Ireland creates new opportunities for Irish artists and organisations to present their work globally through showcasing artists at key global arts events, including the Edinburgh Festivals and the Venice Biennales. It also supports the presentation of outstanding Irish work to international audiences through a regular grant programme.
My Department also has responsibility for safeguarding elements of Ireland’s rich cultural heritage including our arts and culture, our sports and Gaeltacht communities. In that regard, in 2015 Ireland ratified the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Since 2017, our practices of Uilleann Piping, Hurling, Irish Harping and Falconry have been recognised by UNESCO and inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and we have also submitted a multinational application for drystone construction in Ireland (along with Andorra, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg) to join the existing multinational inscription on the UNESCO Representative List.
My Department has developed a National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage where 38 practices have been inscribed. This work by my Department, in close cooperation with the communities concerned and with international partners, strengthens awareness raising and supports the safeguarding of our rich and diverse cultural heritage.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.
Tourism Ireland is responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination. The portrayal of Irish culture and heritage locations in Tourism Ireland's marketing communications overseas can play an important role in helping potential visitors to envisage and appreciate some of the unique aspects of a holiday on the island of Ireland.
Tourism Ireland is an active member of Culture Ireland’s Expert Advisory Committee and highlights the island of Ireland’s rich and diverse culture and unique sporting traditions through its programme of promotions across more than 20 markets around the world (including digital and social media marketing, online and traditional publicity, media and travel trade familiarisation programmes).
As the matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Tourism Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
427. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she remains assured that the national broadcaster's future is secured on a proper business footing, and that private broadcasting continues to be encouraged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35553/23]
View answerThe Broadcasting Act 2009 (as amended by the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022), which is under my remit as Minister, sets out the regulatory framework that applies to broadcasters established in the State, which includes public service broadcasters, whose role is set out in the statute, and commercial broadcasters, which are licenced by Coimisiún na Meán.
It is important that our public service broadcasters are trusted by the people and the Oireachtas and demonstrate best practice in corporate governance and high standards in way in which they do business. That is why I launched an independent examination into RTÉ, which will include a Review of Governance and Culture which will, inter alia, provide an assessment of any organisational cultural characteristics and ways of conducting business within RTÉ, including staff morale and engagement.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 also provides for the licensing of commercial and community radio and television services as well as temporary and institutional radio services. The licensing process is intended to promote diversity of content by seeking applications for programme services that will add to the range of media services currently available in the State. Diversity of ownership is achieved by the licensing process via media ownership and control provisions set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Through this licencing process, commercial broadcasters are encourage to participate in the broadcasting market and fulfil wider public service objectives by providing programming that informs, educates and entertains.
Funding for programmes is available to the commercial, community and public service broadcasting sector through the Sound and Vision and Archiving Schemes, which are supported through 7% of net TV licence fee receipts. Since I entered office in 2020, I have allocated €22.4 million in Exchequer funding for the Sound and Vision Scheme, which is in addition to the licence fee allocation.
428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline clearly defined lines between and public and private broadcasting in this country, with a view to ensuring that both have a role to play; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35554/23]
View answerThe Broadcasting Act 2009 (as amended by the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022), which is under my remit as Minister, sets out the regulatory framework that applies to broadcasters established in the State, which includes public service broadcasters, whose role is set out in the statute, and commercial broadcasters, which are licenced by Coimisiún na Meán.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the licensing of commercial and community radio and television services as well as temporary and institutional radio services. The licensing process is intended to promote diversity of content by seeking applications for programme services that will add to the range of media services currently available in the State. Diversity of ownership is achieved by the licensing process via media ownership and control provisions set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009.
When Coimisiún na Meán awards a licence for a television or radio service, the successful party must enter into, and sign, a broadcasting contract with Coimisiún na Meán. The terms and conditions attaching to a broadcast contract will be determined by the type of licence applied for, and awarded. The types of contracts include commercial, community / community of interest and content provision for radio and television.
Coimisiún na Meán monitors a contractor’s compliance with the terms of its contract through a number of activities including performance reviews and listening and/or watching broadcast content. A contractor must seek prior approval of Coimisiún na Meán for any changes to the terms of contract and key contractual areas include the ownership and control and programming commitments schedules.
The role of our public service broadcasters is clearly defined in Part 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, with the public service objects of both RTÉ and TG4 clearly defined.
All programme material, whether provided by broadcasters licenced by Coimisiún na Meán or by our public service broadcasters, is regulated by Coimisiún na Méan under Part 3B of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which sets out the duties which applies to broadcasters and provides that Coimisiún na Meán may make media service codes and rules which set out regulatory requirements for all broadcasters.
Given their role under Part 7 of the Broadcasting Act, public service broadcasters are subject to a specific layer of regulation designed to ensure they are meeting their statutory public service objects and receive sufficient funding to meet those objects.
429. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of providing one additional procurement officer for each local authority. [35186/23]
View answerUnder Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the numbers and grades of staff allocated to specific work areas within local authorities is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department; procurement officers could potentially be at a number of different grade levels depending on the specific local authority needs identified by the Chief Executive. The relevant information would be available from the local authorities concerned.
